Band-like jewelry

ABSTRACT

Band-like jewellery is described and comprises a core formed by an elongate compressed and hammered chain, the width of which is variable along its length and which is covered externally by a continuous strip wound in a spiral on the core.

[0001] The present invention relates to band-like jewellery designed particularly for the production of necklaces.

[0002] It is known to produce band-like jewellery which, particularly in order to form necklaces, has a variable width starting from a fastening region, which is normally disposed in the region of the back of a wearer's neck in use, and increasing to a maximum width extending around the front portion of the neck.

[0003] It is known to produce this jewellery with a plurality of small tube-like links of increasing width arranged adjacent one another.

[0004] However, this jewellery is produced manually by threading “adjacent links one after another”.

[0005] It is also known to produce band-like jewellery with so-called “OMEGA”-shaped links. However, this jewellery can normally be produced only with bands of uniform width.

[0006] The object of the invention is to produce band-like jewellery of variable width which can be constructed in a highly automated manner.

[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide jewellery of the above-mentioned type having a high degree of surface continuity.

[0008] A further object of the invention is to permit the processing of band-like jewellery produced by conventional methods and having a very low weight.

[0009] This and other objects which will become clearer from the following description are achieved by the invention by band-like jewellery formed in accordance with the appended claims.

[0010] The characteristics and the advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, described by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a band-like necklace formed in accordance with the invention,

[0012]FIG. 2 is a plan view of a detail of the necklace of FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale,

[0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a detail of the necklace of FIG. 1 during processing.

[0014] In the drawings, a flattened and flexible band-like necklace, generally indicated 1, includes a fastening 2 with two fastening elements 2 a, 2 b of which one can be locked in the other and from which the two opposite ends of a continuous, flattened and flexible band 3 extend, the width of the band being variable along its length, preferably increasing from the ends towards the centre.

[0015] In use, the fastening 2 is arranged at the back of a wearer's neck, whilst the wider portion of the band is disposed at the front of the neck.

[0016] The necklace 1 is made from a core 4 formed by an elongate compressed and hammered chain the width of which in turn is variable along its length, increasing from the ends towards the centre.

[0017] The chain from which the core 4 is formed is of the multiple-link type and is preferably formed with rhomboidal links compressed longitudinally in the direction of their longer diagonals.

[0018] To produce the core, once the chain has been compressed, it is hammered, with increasing flattening from the ends towards the centre, so as to produce the desired shape. A typical example of the processing of the core is described in patent application No. VI94A000085 filed in Italy on May 31, 1994 in the name of the same Applicant with the title “Catena a scopo ornamentale” (“A chain for ornamental purposes”).

[0019] A continuous strip 5 with a width preferably of between one and three millimetres is wound in a spiral on the core 4. The pitch of the winding of the strip 5 is substantially equal to the width of the strip so that the spiral has uniform turns with minimal or preferably zero overlap. The free ends of the strip are secured in the region of the fastening elements 2 a, 2 b. It is also possible to provide for two or more strips, possibly of different widths and colours, to be wound on the core.

[0020] A band-like necklace is thus obtained which, whilst having a shape which is extremely pleasing and, in particular, similar to that obtained by processing with tube-like links threaded on a support, is suitable as a whole for mechanized processing and has a low weight. 

1. Band-like jewellery, characterized in that it comprises a core formed by an elongate, compressed and hammered chain the width of which is variable along its length and which is covered externally by a continuous strip wound in a spiral on the core.
 2. Jewellery according to claim 1 in which the chain from which the core is formed is of the type with single or multiple links.
 3. Jewellery according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the chain from which the core is formed is of the type with rhomboidal links and is compressed in the direction of its longer diagonal.
 4. Jewellery according to one or more of the preceding claims in which the width of the core increases from the ends towards the centre.
 5. Jewellery according to one or more of the preceding claims in which the pitch of the winding of the strip is substantially equal to the width of the strip so that the spiral has turns disposed side by side with a minimal or preferably zero overlap.
 6. Jewellery according to one or more of the preceding claims in which the variation of the width of the core is achieved by variation of the degree of compression and/or hammering thereof.
 7. Jewellery according to one or more of the preceding claims in which the core is of the type described in the same Applicant's Italian patent application No. VI94A000085. 